Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to account for the N10 billion approved for Ebola preparedness in June, following the confirmation of an Ebola case in Abuja.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, said the reported case had raised concerns about Nigeria’s emergency preparedness, disease surveillance and the protection of frontline health workers.
He made the demand in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
The former vice-president urged the Federal Government to disclose how much of the approved N10 billion had been released, the dates of disbursement, contracts awarded, beneficiaries and items delivered with the funds.
Atiku also demanded an explanation if the money had not been released, insisting that the government must provide verifiable evidence of its emergency spending.
“Tinubu must explain why he announced emergency funding that never reached the people responsible for protecting Nigerians. A press statement cannot replace an audit,” he said.
His demand followed an announcement by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, that the Federal Government had confirmed an Ebola case in Abuja and identified 44 close contacts for tracing to prevent further transmission.
Atiku Questions Nine-Day Delay in Public Confirmation
Atiku questioned the timeline of the reported case, alleging that the patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private hospital on October 11.
He said the government did not publicly confirm the case until October 20, nine days after the patient reportedly sought medical attention.
The former vice-president also raised concerns about the monitoring of the 44 identified contacts during the period and alleged that private health workers who handled the patient lacked adequate protective equipment.
“This is a failure of preparedness with potentially grave consequences,” he said.
Atiku called on the government to publish a detailed account of its response, including the patient’s travel history, exposure screening, follow-up after symptoms emerged and the timeline for contacting and monitoring the 44 identified individuals.
He further demanded answers on the reported lack of adequate protective equipment for frontline health workers, saying Nigerians deserved transparency and accountability.
Atiku Faults Political Leadership of Ebola Task Force
The ADC presidential candidate also questioned the structure of the presidential task force established by Tinubu in June, which was chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
He argued that medical and public health professionals should lead the technical response, with the authority and resources required to contain the outbreak.
“The NCDC, epidemiologists, doctors and public health professionals must be in charge, with the authority and resources to act. Political titles cannot trace contacts, equip hospitals or save lives,” Atiku said.
He warned that any shortcomings in managing the outbreak could heighten public anxiety and disrupt travel, livelihoods and economic activities.
Atiku also linked the controversy to Nigeria’s economic difficulties, arguing that citizens should not face additional hardship because of an inadequate emergency response.
“The people must not pay twice for the same failure: first through hardship, then through a bungled emergency response. Both caused by Bola,” he said.
Background: Tinubu Approved N10bn in June
On June 9, Tinubu approved the immediate release of N10 billion in emergency funding to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.
The directive followed reports of Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
According to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu also approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats.
Onanuga said the funding was intended to strengthen the operational preparedness of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and support critical national public health emergency response activities.
Atiku’s demand has placed the focus on whether the approved funds were disbursed and how they were used, as the Federal Government responds to the confirmed case in Abuja.
